March 28, 2025 • 31 mins
Original Release Date: January 11, 2010
A letter in Box 13 leads Dan Holiday to a Nevada casino where he wins $100,000 at a rigged roulette wheel. Trouble comes when the $100,000 is stolen and the man who rigged the game wants the money from Holiday.
Original Air Date: March 24, 1948
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A letter in Box 13 leads Dan Holiday to a Nevada casino where he wins $100,000 at a rigged roulette wheel. Trouble comes when the $100,000 is stolen and the man who rigged the game wants the money from Holiday.
Original Air Date: March 24, 1948
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:27):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of OldTime Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham,as we kick off another week with Box
thirteen. Have you got any comments, Send them my way Box thirteen at
Great Detectives dot net. Please castyour vote for me over on podcast ali
AT's podcast Ali dot Great Detectives dotnet. Please join our new Facebook group
(00:54):
Facebook dot Great Detectives dot net.All right, I think anything else Dot
Great Detectives dot net. All right, well, we're gonna get into the
show in just a second. Ido encourage everybody as you make your travel
plans in the new year, remembersit's important to get the best price on
hotels, airline tickets, cruises,rental cars and even more. And you
(01:17):
can do that by going to JohnnyDollar Air dot com. Go to Johnny
Dollar air dot com. That's ouraffiliate pace for Priceline. And when you
place an order on Johnny Dollar airdot com, it helps to support the
Great Detectives of Old Time Radio.So you get the same great deals you
get with Priceline, and you alsoget to support great Old Time Radio.
(01:38):
So all right, well, let'sget into today's episode. Triple cross Box
thirteen with the style tile Mind fixtures, Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday, Hey
(02:05):
look boss, look at this andLaden Start turns out of town. Those
people, Yeah, Box thirteen adventurewandered, won't go any place to do
anything? Wow? This looked likethe right answer, Tony, I think
I'll write a letter to Box thirteen. The letter was postmarked from the city
(02:28):
in Nevada. It came air mailespecially delivery to Box thirteen and me,
it sounded like a great chance tograb a change of scenery and maybe a
little fun. Fun brother, Howwrong could I be? And now back
(02:51):
to Box thirteen and then Holiday's newestadventure Cripple Cross. Just run an advertisement
in the Start Times one that readsadventure wanted, will go anyplace, do
anything and see what you get.A lot of them can be interesting,
like the one I listened to.Susie read the one that came air mail
(03:14):
special delivery from Nevada and clothes isenough money to buy you a plane ticket
to Loath Narrows. You want adventure, all right? Come to Loath Narrows,
Register at the Paradise Hotel, waitin your room until you're contacted,
and that's all it says Susie.That's all, mister Holiday. There's not
(03:34):
even a signature. Even it's what'scalled an ominous letter. What kind of
a letter, Susie, ominous?You know, let me just not signed
by anybody. The word you meanis anonymous. But you could be right
after all. Well, Susie,lock up the office and look for me
when you see me with a newplot and a nice tan. A new
(03:59):
plot and a nice and I said, I got the plot, but the
ten almost turned into a beautiful whitecolor, the kind that goes well with
lilies. The plane tip was smooth, the tip from Marport to the Paradise
hotel was nice and easy. Andthe hotel itself, well, it was
(04:19):
the only one I could remember thatlooked like the ads and the travel folders.
Oddly enough, there was a roomreserved for me in my name.
Okay, somebody checked and found outwho I was. I explored the sweet,
thinking maybe I'd get a lead onwhat this was all about. But
it was just a fancy set ofrooms, all newly decorated. I sat
(04:41):
down, and then about a halfhour later, come in, mister Holiday.
Oh thanks, here you are,thank you. Just a minute,
who gave this to you, I'manswer, what kind of a man?
What he looked like? Oh?Just a manswer Oh I see ahead,
two eyes nose, two ears tomouth. That is description. Yeah,
(05:02):
say, that's exactly what he lookedlike. It's good, but not knowing
when I seem but he'd ask foran answer. Oh no, sir,
he just told me to bring theenvelope to you. Will I be also?
Oh yes, yes, thanks well, two one hundred dollar bills and
a message that said, buy ared carnation in the flower shop and put
(05:25):
it in your lapel. After dinner, go to the casino roulette table.
Buy two hundred dollars and chips andput them on number eighteen. If you
win, walk away, wait tenminutes, and put half the winnings on
number twenty two. After you play, wait in the casino. So,
(05:46):
with a carnation in my lapel,I bought two hundred dollars and chips and
walked to the roulette table. Thereweren't many players. It was a little
too early for the big crowd,so I waited a minute and watched the
play. Took a look at thecrew. Pa, but I might as
well have been in timbuctooy didn't giveme a tumble. Okay, The best
way to see what was going tohappen was to see I shoved a whole
(06:09):
two hundred and number eighteen. Oneor two of the other players placed bets
and then no arbits please, Nomorbits number eighteen read and even your chips,
sir. The croupiers of the winning'sacross to me. I watched his
(06:30):
face. If he had any expression, it was on the soles of his
shoes. Well, maybe seven thousanddollars win was coming around here. I
left the table, sat down anddid a little problem in arithmetic, which
figured out to be one hundred andtwenty six thousand dollars. That's what i'd
have if number twenty two came up, and brother had looked from where I
(06:53):
sat as though it would. Butten minutes went by, and I walked
back to the table waited until thewheel stopped. Number sixteen read and even
place your bets, please, ladiesand gentlemen. Slowly I served thirty five
hundred and ships to number twenty two. This time the others around the wheel
(07:16):
did last thirty five hundred to thirtyfive to one. Then the wheel began
to slow up. No more bets, ladies and gentlemen, no more bet
please. That croupier was as coldas the floor of a Mazzle lamb.
Somebody dropped a pin and I heardit hit the floor. A white ball
click click clicked its way until nowabout twenty two. It's lacking even your
(07:44):
chips, sir. I cast inthe chips, and there I sat with
a hundred and twenty six thousand dollarstucked away in my inside coat pocket.
Somebody had that wheel fixed a killing. I began to wish I was back
in my office. I didn't likeit, A crooked play. Why who?
(08:09):
I made up my mind to goto the owner of the place and
washed my hands of the whole thing. When, oh, here you are,
mister Holiday. I've been looking foryou. I have a message for
you. Yeah, well it's verbalthis time, mister Holiday. What isn't
You're to go into the bar andwait? Is that all? Yes,
sir? The same man gave youthis message, Yes, sir? Did
(08:31):
he still have a head? Twoeyes and those and two ears? Yes,
sir? All right here you're akid. Oh thank you? You
know, if this keeps up muchlonger, you'll be able to retire on
my tips alone. Thank you,mister Holiday. Will that be all?
Oh? How much did this charactergive you to forget? What? He
looked like? Nothing, sir,nothing at all, and a smart boy
like you should have taken a goodlook the second time, especially since I
(08:54):
asked about him after the first message. Oh he was big, dark,
a little stash, and he hada little white scar over his right eye.
If you take fired allas for thatinformation, that's all right, mister
Holiday, no judge for that service, good boy. I'll see you later,
yes, service Holiday all. Iwalked towards the bar, wondering what
was coming next. I didn't likethat fortune burning the cloth in my pocket.
(09:18):
The bar was like my sweet fancy, rich and expenses. I climbed
up on one of the stools andthe bartender came over. Yes, sir,
may I s sir, got anyginger ale? Yes, sir,
what by itself? Mister glass ofginger ail? Mister ginger rail. You
see, I like the bubbles.Champagne has bubbles too, but they're still
(09:39):
around the next day. Just aginger ail, Yes, of course.
Excuse me, is someone sitting here? Oh no, no, I don't
think so. Thank you you are, sir ginger Rail. Thanks the usual
please okay, yes, sir yougot a light of course, thank you.
(10:03):
Don't mention it here you are?Thanks you. Why do you drink
ginger aa? I like it?Why do you drink martinis? Same reason?
I guess the brilliant conversation isn't mister? Well, I've heard better.
You're not very friendly, are you? Boy Scott is always friendly and that's
(10:24):
good tunes. So I hear doyou want to be helped across the street?
All right, I'll shut up,all right. Took a good look
at her. There was something scaredlooking about her because she was nervous.
Well, so was I because theminutes were passing and I still had that
money and I wanted to get ridof it. But I wondered about the
(10:46):
girl, unless she had any partin this. I watched out of the
corner of my eyes. She pickedup her bag, reached her lipstick,
and then clumsy. So it's truewhat they say about women's handbags. You
get the stuff on the bar,I'll pick up the kitchen sink off the
floor. I'm I'm so sorry.Did the powder spill on you? Now
it's all right, Yeah, hereyou are. The mirror didn't break,
(11:07):
did it. Nope, You're stillgood for seven years more. Thanks,
thanks ever so much. I toldyou I was a good boy, scout.
You have a nice smile water toothpastecommercial to go with it. Jumping
nasty. I'm sorry. I guessI'm just as nervous as you are.
Let's talk about something else. Shechatted away, and I listened to It
happened here once in a while throughin a yes or no, and the
(11:31):
clouds began to gather the mirror atthe back of the bar. I went
back and forth. The people gotbigger than shrank the midgets. Somebody drove
a plane through my head, buzzedaround and made up bad landing on my
brain, and he feing better.Now, Oh, you'll be all right.
(12:05):
Just lie there, take it easy. Sure, hey, hey,
I'm in my room. Of course, we brought your head. We had
no hotel. Physician was holiday o. What happened? And just a fainting
spell, nothing serious fainting spell.What are you talking about? Your fainting
spells? Your wife told me youget them? My what told you?
(12:26):
What? I no? No,just lie bag? Whose wife said,
what are your wife. She's notever prescription told now listen, doc,
eye handing my code. It's betterif you lie here. If you're handing
my code, give it to me. Oh very well. Uh, what's
the matter? Was my wife inthis room? Of course you came up
(12:50):
with me? Uh huh, Doc? What would you do with a hundred
and twenty six thousand dollars? Ahundred? That's an odd question? What
would you do with it? Idon't know because I haven't got it anymore.
(13:16):
Now back to Triple Cross, anotherBox thirteen adventure with Alan Ladd as
Dan Holiday. So there I wasone hundred and twenty six thousand in the
red. It was meant to betaken from me. Then somebody was working
at the hard way. Sure,the girl stepped something in my ginger ale.
(13:37):
When I picked up the stuff thatfell out of her handbag, she
took the money. All right,I want to know more of it.
I was going to head for thenearest exit, running, not walking,
when come in Holiday? Yeah?Do I know? You call me Tony.
I'm the guy who wrote the Boxthirteen. All right, goodbye,
(14:01):
Tony. Sit on, that's youridea, funny. I was going to
ask you that we're playing twenty questions, let's skip the other eighteen. Tony,
I got a big one left.Where's the dough? You tell me?
Give it to me. I didn'tlike him. I didn't like the
gun he was playing with either,And I didn't like the little white scar
over his right eye or the littleblack mustache. I was willing right then
(14:22):
and there. That crossed him offmy friendship list. But I told him
what happened. It's a great story. He heard one like it since I
read fairy tales. Well, Idon't care if you believe it or not.
You got no regard for your health, Hollo, They look, Tony,
I'm leaving this place. He'll betoo heavy to carry out. If
you take one more step, that'sbetter. Now, what kind of a
(14:43):
frame is this? Once more?You tell me I played a crooked wheel
downstairs. I don't like that.You got adventure, didn't you. I
don't want anything that's crooked. Ilook who's talking? Who is the girl?
Believe it or not, I neversaw her before, But if she
I think, I don't know.Yeah, ever, try to take a
good look at anyone in that bardownstairs. It's too dark to even see
(15:07):
a lighted match. You're smart,Holliday. The game with the girl is
neat awful me. You get thedough, play doggo act like the girls
slipped him Mickey. Later she turnsup with the dough and you too split.
Now, talk sense, Tony.I didn't know why I came to
Lost Morris in the first place.I didn't know how I was going to
get that money. How would Ihave time to dream up that frame with
(15:28):
a girl? Yeah, yeah,I never thought of it. Okay,
Holliday, maybe you're telling it straight. Okay, Now, can I gonna
you get that money back first?Then you can go. I don't think
i'll stay for the ninth inning,Tony. The game has not started yet.
But you get that dough. Ohthat's your problem, But get it.
Look, Tony, I'm backing outof this. You know I go
(15:48):
to the sheriff. I know youwon't, because there'll be a tale in
you from now on. No onemove like you're going to the law.
Understand. Okay, Okay, Iget it, And there'll be somebody in
this room to see that you don'tuse the phone. You'll be covered like
a pool table holiday. What ifI can't find the girl. But if
I can't get the money back,the boss will be awful mid And there
(16:11):
are worse places than lost Morrows tospend a lifetime. If you'll live,
ever have one of those dreams inwhich you try to run away from something
and can't. Well, this one, with my eyes wide open, it
was really something. Tony and Iwent downstairs two other characters to tach themselves
(16:32):
from chairs. When Tony nodded atthem, brother I was covered. It
looked hopeless, but Tony not farbehind. I asked the doctor if he'd
ever seen the girl who said shewas my wife. Well, there's no
dice there. Then I remembered somethingI told Tony I was going back into
the bar. Far what for?I'll look, Tony, let me do
(16:52):
it my way. I'm the onethat's on the spot, so let me
play it the way I want.Okay, I'll watch and don't try for
a quick steal because the boy's outsideknow how to look for go ahead?
Thanks? What would I do withoutyou, Tony? I don't know,
because you're not gonna be without them. Remember, I'll be watching you,
(17:15):
don't, Yes, sir, MayI serve you dreaming betters here? Well?
Much where were you when when Ifainted at the other end of the
bar? Soon? Oh yeah,so you're were It wasn't our ginger RAI
okay, no it wasn't. Ijust have a loose head and when I
shake it, it comes off.I mean, I serve you sending,
(17:36):
sir, Yes, an answer toa question? What's answer? Who is
the girl who sat down next tome? I don't know, chef?
Oh, yes you do. Ibeg your pardon, sir. But the
ser business you knew that girl?Why do you say that? Because when
she sat down, she asked forthe usual, and you brought her a
martini and you said okay when sheasked you. What does that prove?
(17:59):
The martini proves you know who shewas? The okay means she wasn't a
guest of the hotel, no partender. As polite as you, I would
say okay to a lady guest.That makes sense. Why do you want
to know who she is? Doesthat make any difference? Yeah? Because
I wouldn't want to see her introuble. I'll try to keep her out
of it. I won't tell youever see a picture of Alexander Hamilton.
(18:21):
What are you talking about? Wellhere's one, and funny enough, it's
on a ten dollar bill. Infact, its pictures on all five of
these bills. Yeah, her name'sCanthy Lee. I think she has a
place at the Las Palmas Courts.Thanks put these pictures in frames. But
(18:45):
I found the last Pomas Courts,and of course Tony behind me all the
way. The name lists in frontsaid Cathy Lee lived in number eight.
I looked around before I turned inthe walk. Tony was closer to me
than Varney h on a tabletop.I found number eight and stopped for a
second look for a phone line,but there wasn't any. I knocked at
(19:10):
the door, no answer. Itried it again. Then I heard Tony
whisper from the shadows. Try thedoor any I did. It was unlocked.
Tony coach from the sidelines. Iwent in and closed the door behind
me. It was dark. Idecided to risk a call. Cathy,
(19:36):
Cathy, Cathy Lee. She wasn'tthere. I fumbled my own way through,
but felt like a dresser in thelamp turned it on and but I
saw made me turn that light offfast. What's the matter? She's dead?
(19:59):
What are you talking about it?You heard me she's dead. You
sure, we'll go in and look. You go back in and look for
that dog. Go on. Ilook, Tony, I don't know any
more of this. Poor kid's dead, murdered. I want you to call
the shirt. Now you don't.I said, you go back in there
and look for that dough. Youlook for it. Leave my fingerprints all
over the place. You go backin there and hunt the don't be a
sap whoever killer took the money,don't you see that? Maybe? But
(20:22):
we'll play this angle all the way. I'll stop talking and get in there.
I hated to turn on that light, but I had to. I
didn't look at it. I lookedthrough the room. Then I found something
(20:42):
A plane ticket to San Francisco leavingthat night, and i'll both ticket for
South America. They were in anenvelope. But the information, now now
I love said there would be tworeservations. I put it back where I
found it because I didn't want Tonyto find it on me. And there
was something else, a locket witha man's picture in it. I took
(21:07):
it off its chain and shoved inmy pocket and I left. Well,
hell, any it's not there.I told you wouldn't be stand still back
toward me a frisk Tony. Youdon't trust me, do you? Now?
I told you who killed it?Find that out and you know where
the money went? Come on?What's so funny? Hell? They right
(21:33):
now? I wouldn't want to bein your shoes. None, he was
right. People at the casino sawme when that money, and somebody must
have seen the girl with me.Then I got the mickey, the money
was taking the girl killed? Whodid it? Me? Dan Holiday because
the girl let me for the money. Well, this was a beautiful frame.
(21:57):
Any art gallery in the country wouldbe tried to hang him. But
I knew something Tony didn't. Theplane and boat tickets two seats, one
for Kathy and her murder. Somebodywho left her tickets in her bungalow to
make it look as though she wasin one hundred thousand dollars job by herself.
Sure now our killer was taking aplane in one hour and a boat
(22:22):
to South America. I could havetold Tony, but I wanted to wrap
it up myself. Besides, Iwanted to get the whole thing to the
law. On the way back tothe hotel, I figured something out for
myself, but I'd have to seethe boss of the casino, and I
thought I knew how to do thatwithout Tony tagging along. The casino was
(22:45):
full. I stopped, Tony stopped. What's the idea? What? No,
I've got to think up to yourroom. Nah, you want to
get hurt? Sure, go ahead, shoot me now in front of all
these people. You know, Tony, you wouldn't get ten feet slie,
ain't you okay? What's now?I'm going to play black jack? Flynn,
(23:08):
I want to watch. I satat the blackjack table. I had
as much interest in the game asAunt Mami beck in Iowa, who never
saw a deck of cards in herlife. But I had an idea and
I played it for all it wasworth. Look, dealer, I didn't
like that last steal. I begyour pardon, sir, I said,
I didn't like that last steal.Return your money, sir, Never mind
(23:30):
the money? Who runs his player? He worked. In three seconds.
I was surrounded by muscle boys,and Tony was hotter than a New York
sidewalk in August, but he couldn'ttouch me. A minute later, I
sat across the table from the ownerof the casino, I told me what
happened, and when I finished,he stared at me and said, you're
trying to tell me. Somebody letyou win that money on my wheel.
(23:52):
I am, you're crazy. Thewheel straight, but you know I want
the money. Sure I do.Anytime one hundred grand schlies across. I
know it. At this time,it was fixed. The croupier was tipped.
I was to win quite a minute. Why send Frank up here right
away? Huh oh, okay,forget it. What's the matter? Right
(24:15):
The croupier went off duty just afteryou won. It's not back at and
he won't come back now. Somebodyplanned to take the house this evening for
that money, somebody who couldn't riskgetting at himself. So I'm the logical
one. No one knows me here. I looked like just another player.
Later, mister fix it plans topick up the money and beat it.
(24:38):
Who someone beside yourself who could getto the croupier and bube him to fix
the wheel? Got any ideas?Yeah one my partner. Well that's it.
Then it's got to be. Butthe girl she duped you. That
was a hard way to get themoney from you. Listen, I've got
an idea. But I'm a littlecramped for room. Some of your apartment's
(25:00):
boys, particularly a guy named Tonyaglued to me. Get some of your
boys to shake them off, andI'll bring that money back to you.
How do you know where it is? I know? Okay, Holiday,
I remember fast play, and I'llfind If it takes the rest of my
life, it's a deal. Now, how about the boys. They won't
(25:21):
follow you made that guy. I'llleave my office. Some mugs are telling
him stop him. Got it good? All right, Holiday, you're on
first base. Go ahead. Iwas sure he'd be at the airport,
(25:45):
and I wasn't wrong. He wassitting in the shadows on the outside.
I walked over to him and helooked up. Holiday. I thought you
would be thought i'd be framed.How Frankie, what are you doing here?
I've got a message from Kathy Lee. You want to know you kill
her? You're crazy. Not onlythat you've got one hundred and twenty six
(26:06):
thousand dollars in that bag. Onehundred and twenty six thousand dollars that looked
like easy money. That money doesn'tmean a thing. It's the girl who
counts, the girl who was willingto do what you told her to do.
The girl you cripple across and killedafter double across your boss who brought
you to fix the wheel. It'stoo bad you're so smart, Holiday.
It's too bad you led with that, right, Frankie, somebody call a
(26:30):
police to come and clean this up. The croupier was Please hurry, mister
(26:51):
Holiday. I want to hear theending, all right, Susie, All
right, what do you want toknow? Well, how did you guess
that Kathy Lee was a croupier girl? Well, her lot had had his
picture in Oh, they should havegiven you the money as a reward.
No thanks, Susie, they canhave it. But this one thing I
don't understand, mister Holliday, andthat's you didn't get a tan at all.
(27:12):
You're just as pale as when youleft. Oh, a hundred and
twenty six thousand dollars, a murderand a tan too. She wants the
nights, Susie. Next week,same time. Alan Ladd stars as Damn
Holiday in Box thirteen. Alan Laddappears through the courtesy of Paramount Pictures Watch
(27:42):
for him in his new picture Sigon. Box thirteen is directed by Richard Sandville
with original story by Russell Hughes andoriginal music composed and conducted by Rudy Schrager.
The part of Susie is played bySylvia Picker. Production supervision is by
Burn Customs. This is a Mayfairproduction. Welcome back a very This is
(28:17):
one of the great things about thisshow is because of Dan Lamb being really
an amateur detect him, He's ableto get into some scrapes that your regular
private investigators just simply would not beable to do. Um and uh so,
(28:40):
yeah, this is what I don'tthink Philip Marlowe or or Sam Spade
would go for this. Um.I do kind of wonder why didn't occur
to him to put the money inthe hotel safe? I guess that's one
of those well where would the storybe. But other than that is a
very solid episode and a lot oftwist and turns here. All right,
(29:03):
well we uh oh, one otherthing I noticed I asked last week about
the movie, and I noticed thatit did change the one. Uh the
episode that we had last week waspromoting an entirely different movie. This one
was Saigon, which was from nineteenforty eight. So apparently the one thing
they did change is they did changethe movies with each new with each new
(29:29):
show. All right, well,we do have a listener email. We're
gonna get to that really quick beforewe wrap up. While I'm getting an
email pulled up, I think mymind's working like Columbo, because I just
had another thought. Was I noticedhim ordering He ordered the ginger rail,
and that's that's kind of unusual forthese shows. Usually the protagonist is gonna
(29:55):
order something a heart drink. Idon't think I've rec any of them so
far. This is the first timeI remember somebody ordering something that was non
alcoholic. Tony's Rights in Hi Adam. I just wanted to let you know
that I love your podcast concerning Dragnetsand now the Great Detectives. What a
(30:17):
great idea of having different detective seriesplaying on the same nights every week.
I've been a subscriber of Dragnet forquite some time, and having just found
the Great Detectives podcast, I feellike I hit the jack Paul. I'm
a huge fan of mysteries and I'mrelishing each and every new episode. I
can't even begin to tell you howmany times or listened to the Dragnet episodes
and I'm thrilled that I have anew series to listen to. Keep up
(30:40):
the great work and I love tolisten to your commentary on each episode.
I just voted for the Great Detectiveseries on podcast Alley. Well, thank
you so much, Tonaise. Andthat's a good segue to remind you that
all our listeners please go and castyour vote at podcast Alley dot Great Detectives
dot net. And as always,you got any comments, send them to
me Box third teen at Great Detectorsdot net. Um, but we're gonna
(31:03):
wrap it up for U for today. Tomorrow we'll be back with Pat Novak
from boise Ida Home. This isyour host, Adam graham Son and off
Welcome to the Great Detectives of OldTime Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham,as we kick off another week with Box
thirteen. Have you got any comments, Send them my way Box thirteen at
Great Detectives dot net. Please castyour vote for me over on podcast ali
AT's podcast Ali dot Great Detectives dotnet. Please join our new Facebook group
(00:54):
Facebook dot Great Detectives dot net.All right, I think anything else Dot
Great Detectives dot net. All right, well, we're gonna get into the
show in just a second. Ido encourage everybody as you make your travel
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So all right, well, let'sget into today's episode. Triple cross Box
thirteen with the style tile Mind fixtures, Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday, Hey
(02:05):
look boss, look at this andLaden Start turns out of town. Those
people, Yeah, Box thirteen adventurewandered, won't go any place to do
anything? Wow? This looked likethe right answer, Tony, I think
I'll write a letter to Box thirteen. The letter was postmarked from the city
(02:28):
in Nevada. It came air mailespecially delivery to Box thirteen and me,
it sounded like a great chance tograb a change of scenery and maybe a
little fun. Fun brother, Howwrong could I be? And now back
(02:51):
to Box thirteen and then Holiday's newestadventure Cripple Cross. Just run an advertisement
in the Start Times one that readsadventure wanted, will go anyplace, do
anything and see what you get.A lot of them can be interesting,
like the one I listened to.Susie read the one that came air mail
(03:14):
special delivery from Nevada and clothes isenough money to buy you a plane ticket
to Loath Narrows. You want adventure, all right? Come to Loath Narrows,
Register at the Paradise Hotel, waitin your room until you're contacted,
and that's all it says Susie.That's all, mister Holiday. There's not
(03:34):
even a signature. Even it's what'scalled an ominous letter. What kind of
a letter, Susie, ominous?You know, let me just not signed
by anybody. The word you meanis anonymous. But you could be right
after all. Well, Susie,lock up the office and look for me
when you see me with a newplot and a nice tan. A new
(03:59):
plot and a nice and I said, I got the plot, but the
ten almost turned into a beautiful whitecolor, the kind that goes well with
lilies. The plane tip was smooth, the tip from Marport to the Paradise
hotel was nice and easy. Andthe hotel itself, well, it was
(04:19):
the only one I could remember thatlooked like the ads and the travel folders.
Oddly enough, there was a roomreserved for me in my name.
Okay, somebody checked and found outwho I was. I explored the sweet,
thinking maybe I'd get a lead onwhat this was all about. But
it was just a fancy set ofrooms, all newly decorated. I sat
(04:41):
down, and then about a halfhour later, come in, mister Holiday.
Oh thanks, here you are,thank you. Just a minute,
who gave this to you, I'manswer, what kind of a man?
What he looked like? Oh?Just a manswer Oh I see ahead,
two eyes nose, two ears tomouth. That is description. Yeah,
(05:02):
say, that's exactly what he lookedlike. It's good, but not knowing
when I seem but he'd ask foran answer. Oh no, sir,
he just told me to bring theenvelope to you. Will I be also?
Oh yes, yes, thanks well, two one hundred dollar bills and
a message that said, buy ared carnation in the flower shop and put
(05:25):
it in your lapel. After dinner, go to the casino roulette table.
Buy two hundred dollars and chips andput them on number eighteen. If you
win, walk away, wait tenminutes, and put half the winnings on
number twenty two. After you play, wait in the casino. So,
(05:46):
with a carnation in my lapel,I bought two hundred dollars and chips and
walked to the roulette table. Thereweren't many players. It was a little
too early for the big crowd,so I waited a minute and watched the
play. Took a look at thecrew. Pa, but I might as
well have been in timbuctooy didn't giveme a tumble. Okay, The best
way to see what was going tohappen was to see I shoved a whole
(06:09):
two hundred and number eighteen. Oneor two of the other players placed bets
and then no arbits please, Nomorbits number eighteen read and even your chips,
sir. The croupiers of the winning'sacross to me. I watched his
(06:30):
face. If he had any expression, it was on the soles of his
shoes. Well, maybe seven thousanddollars win was coming around here. I
left the table, sat down anddid a little problem in arithmetic, which
figured out to be one hundred andtwenty six thousand dollars. That's what i'd
have if number twenty two came up, and brother had looked from where I
(06:53):
sat as though it would. Butten minutes went by, and I walked
back to the table waited until thewheel stopped. Number sixteen read and even
place your bets, please, ladiesand gentlemen. Slowly I served thirty five
hundred and ships to number twenty two. This time the others around the wheel
(07:16):
did last thirty five hundred to thirtyfive to one. Then the wheel began
to slow up. No more bets, ladies and gentlemen, no more bet
please. That croupier was as coldas the floor of a Mazzle lamb.
Somebody dropped a pin and I heardit hit the floor. A white ball
click click clicked its way until nowabout twenty two. It's lacking even your
(07:44):
chips, sir. I cast inthe chips, and there I sat with
a hundred and twenty six thousand dollarstucked away in my inside coat pocket.
Somebody had that wheel fixed a killing. I began to wish I was back
in my office. I didn't likeit, A crooked play. Why who?
(08:09):
I made up my mind to goto the owner of the place and
washed my hands of the whole thing. When, oh, here you are,
mister Holiday. I've been looking foryou. I have a message for
you. Yeah, well it's verbalthis time, mister Holiday. What isn't
You're to go into the bar andwait? Is that all? Yes,
sir? The same man gave youthis message, Yes, sir? Did
(08:31):
he still have a head? Twoeyes and those and two ears? Yes,
sir? All right here you're akid. Oh thank you? You
know, if this keeps up muchlonger, you'll be able to retire on
my tips alone. Thank you,mister Holiday. Will that be all?
Oh? How much did this charactergive you to forget? What? He
looked like? Nothing, sir,nothing at all, and a smart boy
like you should have taken a goodlook the second time, especially since I
(08:54):
asked about him after the first message. Oh he was big, dark,
a little stash, and he hada little white scar over his right eye.
If you take fired allas for thatinformation, that's all right, mister
Holiday, no judge for that service, good boy. I'll see you later,
yes, service Holiday all. Iwalked towards the bar, wondering what
was coming next. I didn't likethat fortune burning the cloth in my pocket.
(09:18):
The bar was like my sweet fancy, rich and expenses. I climbed
up on one of the stools andthe bartender came over. Yes, sir,
may I s sir, got anyginger ale? Yes, sir,
what by itself? Mister glass ofginger ail? Mister ginger rail. You
see, I like the bubbles.Champagne has bubbles too, but they're still
(09:39):
around the next day. Just aginger ail, Yes, of course.
Excuse me, is someone sitting here? Oh no, no, I don't
think so. Thank you you are, sir ginger Rail. Thanks the usual
please okay, yes, sir yougot a light of course, thank you.
(10:03):
Don't mention it here you are?Thanks you. Why do you drink
ginger aa? I like it?Why do you drink martinis? Same reason?
I guess the brilliant conversation isn't mister? Well, I've heard better.
You're not very friendly, are you? Boy Scott is always friendly and that's
(10:24):
good tunes. So I hear doyou want to be helped across the street?
All right, I'll shut up,all right. Took a good look
at her. There was something scaredlooking about her because she was nervous.
Well, so was I because theminutes were passing and I still had that
money and I wanted to get ridof it. But I wondered about the
(10:46):
girl, unless she had any partin this. I watched out of the
corner of my eyes. She pickedup her bag, reached her lipstick,
and then clumsy. So it's truewhat they say about women's handbags. You
get the stuff on the bar,I'll pick up the kitchen sink off the
floor. I'm I'm so sorry.Did the powder spill on you? Now
it's all right, Yeah, hereyou are. The mirror didn't break,
(11:07):
did it. Nope, You're stillgood for seven years more. Thanks,
thanks ever so much. I toldyou I was a good boy, scout.
You have a nice smile water toothpastecommercial to go with it. Jumping
nasty. I'm sorry. I guessI'm just as nervous as you are.
Let's talk about something else. Shechatted away, and I listened to It
happened here once in a while throughin a yes or no, and the
(11:31):
clouds began to gather the mirror atthe back of the bar. I went
back and forth. The people gotbigger than shrank the midgets. Somebody drove
a plane through my head, buzzedaround and made up bad landing on my
brain, and he feing better.Now, Oh, you'll be all right.
(12:05):
Just lie there, take it easy. Sure, hey, hey,
I'm in my room. Of course, we brought your head. We had
no hotel. Physician was holiday o. What happened? And just a fainting
spell, nothing serious fainting spell.What are you talking about? Your fainting
spells? Your wife told me youget them? My what told you?
(12:26):
What? I no? No,just lie bag? Whose wife said,
what are your wife. She's notever prescription told now listen, doc,
eye handing my code. It's betterif you lie here. If you're handing
my code, give it to me. Oh very well. Uh, what's
the matter? Was my wife inthis room? Of course you came up
(12:50):
with me? Uh huh, Doc? What would you do with a hundred
and twenty six thousand dollars? Ahundred? That's an odd question? What
would you do with it? Idon't know because I haven't got it anymore.
(13:16):
Now back to Triple Cross, anotherBox thirteen adventure with Alan Ladd as
Dan Holiday. So there I wasone hundred and twenty six thousand in the
red. It was meant to betaken from me. Then somebody was working
at the hard way. Sure,the girl stepped something in my ginger ale.
(13:37):
When I picked up the stuff thatfell out of her handbag, she
took the money. All right,I want to know more of it.
I was going to head for thenearest exit, running, not walking,
when come in Holiday? Yeah?Do I know? You call me Tony.
I'm the guy who wrote the Boxthirteen. All right, goodbye,
(14:01):
Tony. Sit on, that's youridea, funny. I was going to
ask you that we're playing twenty questions, let's skip the other eighteen. Tony,
I got a big one left.Where's the dough? You tell me?
Give it to me. I didn'tlike him. I didn't like the
gun he was playing with either,And I didn't like the little white scar
over his right eye or the littleblack mustache. I was willing right then
(14:22):
and there. That crossed him offmy friendship list. But I told him
what happened. It's a great story. He heard one like it since I
read fairy tales. Well, Idon't care if you believe it or not.
You got no regard for your health, Hollo, They look, Tony,
I'm leaving this place. He'll betoo heavy to carry out. If
you take one more step, that'sbetter. Now, what kind of a
(14:43):
frame is this? Once more?You tell me I played a crooked wheel
downstairs. I don't like that.You got adventure, didn't you. I
don't want anything that's crooked. Ilook who's talking? Who is the girl?
Believe it or not, I neversaw her before, But if she
I think, I don't know.Yeah, ever, try to take a
good look at anyone in that bardownstairs. It's too dark to even see
(15:07):
a lighted match. You're smart,Holliday. The game with the girl is
neat awful me. You get thedough, play doggo act like the girls
slipped him Mickey. Later she turnsup with the dough and you too split.
Now, talk sense, Tony.I didn't know why I came to
Lost Morris in the first place.I didn't know how I was going to
get that money. How would Ihave time to dream up that frame with
(15:28):
a girl? Yeah, yeah,I never thought of it. Okay,
Holliday, maybe you're telling it straight. Okay, Now, can I gonna
you get that money back first?Then you can go. I don't think
i'll stay for the ninth inning,Tony. The game has not started yet.
But you get that dough. Ohthat's your problem, But get it.
Look, Tony, I'm backing outof this. You know I go
(15:48):
to the sheriff. I know youwon't, because there'll be a tale in
you from now on. No onemove like you're going to the law.
Understand. Okay, Okay, Iget it, And there'll be somebody in
this room to see that you don'tuse the phone. You'll be covered like
a pool table holiday. What ifI can't find the girl. But if
I can't get the money back,the boss will be awful mid And there
(16:11):
are worse places than lost Morrows tospend a lifetime. If you'll live,
ever have one of those dreams inwhich you try to run away from something
and can't. Well, this one, with my eyes wide open, it
was really something. Tony and Iwent downstairs two other characters to tach themselves
(16:32):
from chairs. When Tony nodded atthem, brother I was covered. It
looked hopeless, but Tony not farbehind. I asked the doctor if he'd
ever seen the girl who said shewas my wife. Well, there's no
dice there. Then I remembered somethingI told Tony I was going back into
the bar. Far what for?I'll look, Tony, let me do
(16:52):
it my way. I'm the onethat's on the spot, so let me
play it the way I want.Okay, I'll watch and don't try for
a quick steal because the boy's outsideknow how to look for go ahead?
Thanks? What would I do withoutyou, Tony? I don't know,
because you're not gonna be without them. Remember, I'll be watching you,
(17:15):
don't, Yes, sir, MayI serve you dreaming betters here? Well?
Much where were you when when Ifainted at the other end of the
bar? Soon? Oh yeah,so you're were It wasn't our ginger RAI
okay, no it wasn't. Ijust have a loose head and when I
shake it, it comes off.I mean, I serve you sending,
(17:36):
sir, Yes, an answer toa question? What's answer? Who is
the girl who sat down next tome? I don't know, chef?
Oh, yes you do. Ibeg your pardon, sir. But the
ser business you knew that girl?Why do you say that? Because when
she sat down, she asked forthe usual, and you brought her a
martini and you said okay when sheasked you. What does that prove?
(17:59):
The martini proves you know who shewas? The okay means she wasn't a
guest of the hotel, no partender. As polite as you, I would
say okay to a lady guest.That makes sense. Why do you want
to know who she is? Doesthat make any difference? Yeah? Because
I wouldn't want to see her introuble. I'll try to keep her out
of it. I won't tell youever see a picture of Alexander Hamilton.
(18:21):
What are you talking about? Wellhere's one, and funny enough, it's
on a ten dollar bill. Infact, its pictures on all five of
these bills. Yeah, her name'sCanthy Lee. I think she has a
place at the Las Palmas Courts.Thanks put these pictures in frames. But
(18:45):
I found the last Pomas Courts,and of course Tony behind me all the
way. The name lists in frontsaid Cathy Lee lived in number eight.
I looked around before I turned inthe walk. Tony was closer to me
than Varney h on a tabletop.I found number eight and stopped for a
second look for a phone line,but there wasn't any. I knocked at
(19:10):
the door, no answer. Itried it again. Then I heard Tony
whisper from the shadows. Try thedoor any I did. It was unlocked.
Tony coach from the sidelines. Iwent in and closed the door behind
me. It was dark. Idecided to risk a call. Cathy,
(19:36):
Cathy, Cathy Lee. She wasn'tthere. I fumbled my own way through,
but felt like a dresser in thelamp turned it on and but I
saw made me turn that light offfast. What's the matter? She's dead?
(19:59):
What are you talking about it?You heard me she's dead. You
sure, we'll go in and look. You go back in and look for
that dog. Go on. Ilook, Tony, I don't know any
more of this. Poor kid's dead, murdered. I want you to call
the shirt. Now you don't.I said, you go back in there
and look for that dough. Youlook for it. Leave my fingerprints all
over the place. You go backin there and hunt the don't be a
sap whoever killer took the money,don't you see that? Maybe? But
(20:22):
we'll play this angle all the way. I'll stop talking and get in there.
I hated to turn on that light, but I had to. I
didn't look at it. I lookedthrough the room. Then I found something
(20:42):
A plane ticket to San Francisco leavingthat night, and i'll both ticket for
South America. They were in anenvelope. But the information, now now
I love said there would be tworeservations. I put it back where I
found it because I didn't want Tonyto find it on me. And there
was something else, a locket witha man's picture in it. I took
(21:07):
it off its chain and shoved inmy pocket and I left. Well,
hell, any it's not there.I told you wouldn't be stand still back
toward me a frisk Tony. Youdon't trust me, do you? Now?
I told you who killed it?Find that out and you know where
the money went? Come on?What's so funny? Hell? They right
(21:33):
now? I wouldn't want to bein your shoes. None, he was
right. People at the casino sawme when that money, and somebody must
have seen the girl with me.Then I got the mickey, the money
was taking the girl killed? Whodid it? Me? Dan Holiday because
the girl let me for the money. Well, this was a beautiful frame.
(21:57):
Any art gallery in the country wouldbe tried to hang him. But
I knew something Tony didn't. Theplane and boat tickets two seats, one
for Kathy and her murder. Somebodywho left her tickets in her bungalow to
make it look as though she wasin one hundred thousand dollars job by herself.
Sure now our killer was taking aplane in one hour and a boat
(22:22):
to South America. I could havetold Tony, but I wanted to wrap
it up myself. Besides, Iwanted to get the whole thing to the
law. On the way back tothe hotel, I figured something out for
myself, but I'd have to seethe boss of the casino, and I
thought I knew how to do thatwithout Tony tagging along. The casino was
(22:45):
full. I stopped, Tony stopped. What's the idea? What? No,
I've got to think up to yourroom. Nah, you want to
get hurt? Sure, go ahead, shoot me now in front of all
these people. You know, Tony, you wouldn't get ten feet slie,
ain't you okay? What's now?I'm going to play black jack? Flynn,
(23:08):
I want to watch. I satat the blackjack table. I had
as much interest in the game asAunt Mami beck in Iowa, who never
saw a deck of cards in herlife. But I had an idea and
I played it for all it wasworth. Look, dealer, I didn't
like that last steal. I begyour pardon, sir, I said,
I didn't like that last steal.Return your money, sir, Never mind
(23:30):
the money? Who runs his player? He worked. In three seconds.
I was surrounded by muscle boys,and Tony was hotter than a New York
sidewalk in August, but he couldn'ttouch me. A minute later, I
sat across the table from the ownerof the casino, I told me what
happened, and when I finished,he stared at me and said, you're
trying to tell me. Somebody letyou win that money on my wheel.
(23:52):
I am, you're crazy. Thewheel straight, but you know I want
the money. Sure I do.Anytime one hundred grand schlies across. I
know it. At this time,it was fixed. The croupier was tipped.
I was to win quite a minute. Why send Frank up here right
away? Huh oh, okay,forget it. What's the matter? Right
(24:15):
The croupier went off duty just afteryou won. It's not back at and
he won't come back now. Somebodyplanned to take the house this evening for
that money, somebody who couldn't riskgetting at himself. So I'm the logical
one. No one knows me here. I looked like just another player.
Later, mister fix it plans topick up the money and beat it.
(24:38):
Who someone beside yourself who could getto the croupier and bube him to fix
the wheel? Got any ideas?Yeah one my partner. Well that's it.
Then it's got to be. Butthe girl she duped you. That
was a hard way to get themoney from you. Listen, I've got
an idea. But I'm a littlecramped for room. Some of your apartment's
(25:00):
boys, particularly a guy named Tonyaglued to me. Get some of your
boys to shake them off, andI'll bring that money back to you.
How do you know where it is? I know? Okay, Holiday,
I remember fast play, and I'llfind If it takes the rest of my
life, it's a deal. Now, how about the boys. They won't
(25:21):
follow you made that guy. I'llleave my office. Some mugs are telling
him stop him. Got it good? All right, Holiday, you're on
first base. Go ahead. Iwas sure he'd be at the airport,
(25:45):
and I wasn't wrong. He wassitting in the shadows on the outside.
I walked over to him and helooked up. Holiday. I thought you
would be thought i'd be framed.How Frankie, what are you doing here?
I've got a message from Kathy Lee. You want to know you kill
her? You're crazy. Not onlythat you've got one hundred and twenty six
(26:06):
thousand dollars in that bag. Onehundred and twenty six thousand dollars that looked
like easy money. That money doesn'tmean a thing. It's the girl who
counts, the girl who was willingto do what you told her to do.
The girl you cripple across and killedafter double across your boss who brought
you to fix the wheel. It'stoo bad you're so smart, Holiday.
It's too bad you led with that, right, Frankie, somebody call a
(26:30):
police to come and clean this up. The croupier was Please hurry, mister
(26:51):
Holiday. I want to hear theending, all right, Susie, All
right, what do you want toknow? Well, how did you guess
that Kathy Lee was a croupier girl? Well, her lot had had his
picture in Oh, they should havegiven you the money as a reward.
No thanks, Susie, they canhave it. But this one thing I
don't understand, mister Holliday, andthat's you didn't get a tan at all.
(27:12):
You're just as pale as when youleft. Oh, a hundred and
twenty six thousand dollars, a murderand a tan too. She wants the
nights, Susie. Next week,same time. Alan Ladd stars as Damn
Holiday in Box thirteen. Alan Laddappears through the courtesy of Paramount Pictures Watch
(27:42):
for him in his new picture Sigon. Box thirteen is directed by Richard Sandville
with original story by Russell Hughes andoriginal music composed and conducted by Rudy Schrager.
The part of Susie is played bySylvia Picker. Production supervision is by
Burn Customs. This is a Mayfairproduction. Welcome back a very This is
(28:17):
one of the great things about thisshow is because of Dan Lamb being really
an amateur detect him, He's ableto get into some scrapes that your regular
private investigators just simply would not beable to do. Um and uh so,
(28:40):
yeah, this is what I don'tthink Philip Marlowe or or Sam Spade
would go for this. Um.I do kind of wonder why didn't occur
to him to put the money inthe hotel safe? I guess that's one
of those well where would the storybe. But other than that is a
very solid episode and a lot oftwist and turns here. All right,
(29:03):
well we uh oh, one otherthing I noticed I asked last week about
the movie, and I noticed thatit did change the one. Uh the
episode that we had last week waspromoting an entirely different movie. This one
was Saigon, which was from nineteenforty eight. So apparently the one thing
they did change is they did changethe movies with each new with each new
(29:29):
show. All right, well,we do have a listener email. We're
gonna get to that really quick beforewe wrap up. While I'm getting an
email pulled up, I think mymind's working like Columbo, because I just
had another thought. Was I noticedhim ordering He ordered the ginger rail,
and that's that's kind of unusual forthese shows. Usually the protagonist is gonna
(29:55):
order something a heart drink. Idon't think I've rec any of them so
far. This is the first timeI remember somebody ordering something that was non
alcoholic. Tony's Rights in Hi Adam. I just wanted to let you know
that I love your podcast concerning Dragnetsand now the Great Detectives. What a
(30:17):
great idea of having different detective seriesplaying on the same nights every week.
I've been a subscriber of Dragnet forquite some time, and having just found
the Great Detectives podcast, I feellike I hit the jack Paul. I'm
a huge fan of mysteries and I'mrelishing each and every new episode. I
can't even begin to tell you howmany times or listened to the Dragnet episodes
and I'm thrilled that I have anew series to listen to. Keep up
(30:40):
the great work and I love tolisten to your commentary on each episode.
I just voted for the Great Detectiveseries on podcast Alley. Well, thank
you so much, Tonaise. Andthat's a good segue to remind you that
all our listeners please go and castyour vote at podcast Alley dot Great Detectives
dot net. And as always,you got any comments, send them to
me Box third teen at Great Detectorsdot net. Um, but we're gonna
(31:03):
wrap it up for U for today. Tomorrow we'll be back with Pat Novak
from boise Ida Home. This isyour host, Adam graham Son and off
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